CPB To Honor Slain NPR Journalists

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees the outlay of government funding for public TV and radio, has awarded a $400,000 grant to NPR to seed a fund in honor of slain NPR photojournalist David Gilkey and journalist/interpreter Zabihullah Tamanna, who were killed June 5 while covering the war in Afghanistan.

“David Gilkey and Zabihullah Tamanna were masters of their craft who shared a passion for their work and extraordinary courage to go where few do to report stories of international importance,” said CPB President Pat Harrison. “Through this fund, we honor their work and want to ensure that their legacy lives on through public media’s global journalism.”

The fund will underwrite "equipment, training, and support for international coverage and video journalism at NPR [visuals are important to NPR web stories, as well as for NPR Live and other platforms]."

It was announced this week at the Public Radio Program Directors Association conference in Phoenix.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee will “examine certain editorial and employment standards and practices” at National Public Radio as part of its communications oversight, according to the committee oversight plan